Strauss & co - Review 2019

The inaugural auction bridged three centuries of tradition and included South Africa’s oldest living wine, Jaubert Muscat d’Alexandrie 1800. Seven generations of the Joubert family have cared for the 100-litre barrel of Muscat, which is topped up each year. The solera-style, richly-sweet wine, which received 99 points from UK wine critic Neal Martin, sold for R51 210. It was also the top earner in the wine category for 2019. Other South African rarities that performed well included the GS Cabernet of 1966. Characterised as a “truly iconic wine” by wine critic Jancis Robinson, a single 750ml bottle sold for R34 140. In 2017 the Institute of Masters of Wine, a London-based professional body with an unsurpassed international reputation, bestowed Eben Sadie (of Swartland winery Sadie Family Wines) with its accolade of Winemaker of the Year. Fittingly, two wines by Sadie placed in the list of top ten earners. A limited vertical case of long-ageing, elegant Columella, released in 2016, sold for R34 140. A collectors’ case of the first vintages of Skurfberg, Kokerboom, Pofadder and T’Voetpad offered with the once-off Eselshoek and legendary Mev. Kirsten fetched R25 036. New auctions are experiments and as of 2020 the wine sale will be integrated into the marquee live sales with its own dedicated session.This strategywill ensure better streamlining of marketing and sales. It also affirms Strauss & Co’s commitment to wine as a vibrant category of collectables. In summary: • The profile of South African wines is in the ascendency, notably among international critics and wine guilds • Strauss & Co’s entry into this segment, coupled with its excellent reputation, will affirm wine’s status as a collectable • Strategic partnerships offer an excellent model to grow and develop new markets for collectables • There is still considerable untapped potential in the existing overlap between art and wine collecting Sadie Family Columella 2010 Sold R13 656 Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2015 Sold R14 794 Vilafonte Series C 2010 Sold R13 656 Klein Constantia Vin de Constance, 1986 Sold R34 140 41